Childbirth

When you are ready to have your baby, you'll go through labor. Contractions let you know labor is starting. When contractions are five minutes apart, your body is ready to push the baby out. During the first stage of labor, your cervix slowly opens, or dilates, to about 4 inches wide. At the same time, it becomes thinner. This is called effacement. You shouldn't push until your uterus is fully effaced and dilated. When it is, the baby delivery stage starts. Crowning is when your baby's scalp comes into view. Shortly afterward, your baby is born. The placenta that nourished the baby follows.

Overview

Feature Articles

Latest Childbirth News and Research

New guidelines recommend 2 hours of weekly exercise for postpartum women

New guidelines recommend 2 hours of weekly exercise for postpartum women

Cardiovascular-related maternal mortality has more than doubled since 1999

Cardiovascular-related maternal mortality has more than doubled since 1999

Expectant and new fathers express the need for more support during pregnancy and childbirth

Expectant and new fathers express the need for more support during pregnancy and childbirth

Study links postnatal depression to disrupted oxytocin system during breastfeeding

Study links postnatal depression to disrupted oxytocin system during breastfeeding

WHO study sheds light on global maternal mortality crisis

WHO study sheds light on global maternal mortality crisis

DEVOTION focuses on understanding birth trauma and optimizing birth experience

DEVOTION focuses on understanding birth trauma and optimizing birth experience

Oxytocin’s new role in delaying embryo development revealed

Oxytocin’s new role in delaying embryo development revealed

HPV more common in men than women and linked to rising cancer rates

HPV more common in men than women and linked to rising cancer rates

Rural mothers face unique challenges in breastfeeding support

Rural mothers face unique challenges in breastfeeding support

Tocolytic drugs ineffective for premature birth after 30 weeks

Tocolytic drugs ineffective for premature birth after 30 weeks

Maternal stress may disrupt infant gut health, study highlights long-term risks

Maternal stress may disrupt infant gut health, study highlights long-term risks

Routine psychological screening can improve maternal cardiovascular health

Routine psychological screening can improve maternal cardiovascular health

Adverse pregnancy outcomes increase cardiovascular risk, even in unaffected sisters

Adverse pregnancy outcomes increase cardiovascular risk, even in unaffected sisters

Surge in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo leads to healthcare crisis

Surge in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo leads to healthcare crisis

Urgent action needed to end female genital mutilation

Urgent action needed to end female genital mutilation

Cervical cancer during pregnancy linked to higher maternal health risks

Cervical cancer during pregnancy linked to higher maternal health risks

Dartmouth study links missing birth support to higher stress levels

Dartmouth study links missing birth support to higher stress levels

Study finds increased risk of cardiovascular disease for mothers of twins

Study finds increased risk of cardiovascular disease for mothers of twins

AI-based model detects unseen risk combinations in pregnancies

AI-based model detects unseen risk combinations in pregnancies

New research aims to improve understanding of episiotomy mechanics

New research aims to improve understanding of episiotomy mechanics

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